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Sikhism fought to get rid of the caste system in India, in order to make all individuals equals (that they are seen as in Sikhism). All Sikh males were given the surname Singh (meaning Lion) and all women the last name Kaur (princess). This meant that a woman could retain her name and not have to take her husbands, as well as all people having a name that would not associate them with a certain caste, which could well mean that some people would refuse to even touch them or step on their shadow for the very lowest of the castes in India.

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However, many Sikhs keep their original family name and only give Singh and Kaur as middle names.